Kano Chieftaincy Crisis: Silence Isn’t Golden

By Umar Ardo, Ph.D

I feel thoroughly sad by what is happening in the Kano chieftaincy imbroglio. And every right thinking northerner should feel sad as well. I equally feel disappointed with especially the Kano politicians whom I put the entire blame on for, by their faulty judgements, both in governance and politics, instigating the whole unfortunate situation.

At a perilous time of adversity like this against Northern Nigeria, and particularly against the Caliphate establishment, when all hands ought to be on deck to mobilize our people to use the ideals of the Caliphate entity as a platform to help ward off the external threat to unite and reposition our people culturally, politically, economically and strategically within the Nigerian state; to demonstrate the usage of our rich cultural heritage established by our forebears and resolve intractable contemporary political, economic and social problems, thus rekindling in our people a feeling of hope and confidence in our traditional settings; to re-emphasize the integrative essence of the traditional institution by forging a strong bond of unity, community and solidarity in our multi-cultural settings; to serve as a calling unto our people to rise up to the challenges of democratic governance; and to project our people positively as a society of history, heroes and common destiny – unfortunately, it is at this critical time that more out of either sheer vaulted ambition, ego, ignorance and/or misplaced political priorities, some self-centered politicians are trying to compoundly fracture the northern traditional establishment at the Caliphate’s most powerful emirate, further complicating the already difficult and volatile situation the North is facing under the current democratic dispensation.

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To this end, no member of the caliphate, least of all persons of the standings of Kano leading politicians, should be seen to be part of this societal dislocation. It must be condemned by all well meaning citizens.

Accordingly, it is my considered opinion that all the politicians, who are creating this chasm in the Kano traditional institution, should forthwith retract their positions and distance themselves from its content and intent, and make amends and sacrifices towards amicably resolving the problem in the wider interest of the North and its people, and the advancement of the unity, harmony, dignity and prosperity of Nigeria .

To this end, I call on His Eminence the Sultan, as head of the Caliphate estate, to immediately summon a meeting of Northern Traditional Rulers Council to deliberate on the matter and advise all concerned to the issue as to the best possible solution. For the traditional leaders silence and inertia on an issue that directly affects their own very institution are not at all golden. In fact, it will be disappointing and denigrating to the traditional entity itself, portraying the occupiers of the institution’s stools as ineffective and their heritage and values as irrelevant in solving even their own institutional problems in modern society.

As pointed out above, the Caliphate Establishment is the umbrella that gives cover to all of us; it is our heritage and our pride, and we therefore cannot and should not sit by and watch the misguided attempt to destroy its relevance and glory.